Now every reader can understand the je ne sais quoi that has made the Tour de France a cultural phenomenon.

Even couch potatoes can become experts on the Tour de France with this comprehensive, user-friendly guide that includes the history, strategy, stages, scoring, and stars of this annual sporting event. Readers can get in the saddle and learn:

- The varied stages from snaky time trials to killer mountain stages

- Team strategies-and the role each team member plays

- How the Tour is scored

- What the Yellow, Green, White, and Polka-Dot jerseys represent

- The meaning of peloton, tifosi, "mountain goats,"

- hot spots," and flamme rouge

- The characteristics of a racer, whether a patron or domestique-and the real reasons racers shave their legs

- How riders eat, drink, change clothes, and heed the call of nature without getting off their bikes

- How to follow the Tour online, on TV, in the papers, and in person

Even couch potatoes can become experts on the "Tour de France" with this comprehensive, user-friendly guide covering the history, strategies, stages, scoring and stars of the unique event.

J.P. Partland has had Tour Fever since he was in the seventh grade. A journalist since 1991, he is the author of both Mountain Bike Madness and The World of BMX, and a regular contributor to Asphalt magazine. An avid racer, Partland medaled in the team pursuit at the US National Cycling Championships in 2002. He has also ridden The Irish Milk Ras, the de facto national tour of Ireland.